Do we still grow British apples.

Yes we still grow British apples.

If you're ever in Kent have a visit here:
www.nationalfruitcollection.org.uk/

Have you visited East Sussex or parts of Kent, Thanet in particular, you will see miles of polytunnels.

If the Netherlands can produce salad products cheaper than us why not buy them? We have products they need that we can grow better than they can, Field crops like wheat and barley.

We were exporting grain to Europe in the Roman period (and hunting dogs and cloaks). Although I think the last two do not feature very highly in international trade these days.

Oh yes and can’t wait for my visit to East Sussex to buy them fresh.

There are miles of polytunnels in Herefordshire Witzend!

Pedwards

Well let’s face! She’s mad! We should be producing and consuming more of our own produce. I have said so for years long before Brexit or Covid, we should be more self reliant.

I agree. I can’t imagine why should we need to import so much salad stuff from the Netherlands - a small country with virtually the same climate. It’s not the same as ditto from rather warmer Spain.
I do wonder whether potential NIMBY objections to miles of polytunnels are one reason. Even parts of southern Spain have huge swathes of these.

Well let’s face! She’s mad! We should be producing and consuming more of our own produce. I have said so for years long before Brexit or Covid, we should be more self reliant.

Pearlsaminger

Would love a russet at Christmas… or any other time of year. I’ve been looking for the past autumn/winters. Never found any… sad as they were my absolute favourites ?

I've had russet apples from Ocado and Waitrose last winter. They were two different varieties.
Also bought a few in London from a greengrocer's delivery service and some from a local greengrocer. They are out there but as they don't keep well it's a short window.

Yes they do, but going back to the original post, there is a "lean" period with regard to apples from the UK, just as there is with other fresh fruit/veg.

NotSpaghetti

British Apples are in season September to about April.

Do you remember the soft apples of our youth when they had been stored too long?

I always keep apples in the fridge, they stay crisp for much, much longer.

My favourite apple is Discovery. It is only sold for a short time in a few supermarkets. I think that I have bought them previously in Morrisons and Tesco. I don't drive so could not access a farm shop.

I have a real greengrocer who in the season has about ten different varieties of English apples. They cost a little more than the imports and are all different sizes but wonderful flavours. It is up to the consumer to vote with their purses and not expect something for nearly nothing!

Not long until August and new season British apples appear. I prefer British as I like a crunchy tangy apple which seem to grow best in our climate. Remember Golden Delicious - taste like wool to me but some seem to like them.

I can remember when certain politicians wanted the country to boycott South African apples and I was only about ten years old and I had a terrible fight with my conscience because although I wanted to agree with the boycott, I felt that the poor South African workers would be out of work and would starve so I carried on buying them.

Try a Farmshop you will get British apples there ??

The Mac Red is still sold at least in Supermarkets. Late season apple and usually top of the price range.

I buy British apples - Asda and Aldi stock them and they are reasonably priced.

timetogo2016, Russets we’re my dads favourite apple too. I try to find them and usually can in farm shops which gives me a ping of nostalgia!

Would love a russet at Christmas… or any other time of year. I’ve been looking for the past autumn/winters. Never found any… sad as they were my absolute favourites ?

I buy English apples at my local farm shop.l also buy local produced meat to save on transport miles.I refuse to buy out of season fruit and veg from halfway round the world.

We shop with Asda, they have English apples.
We have two apple trees in the garden, one large Bramley tree and a smaller unknown variety that DH thinks are Cox's Orange Pippins. We harvest both of them and freeze the apples, but have not had much success with storing them the traditional way, they're attached by mice or rats or go mouldy.

You can pick your own locally later in the year, direct from the farm. So the answer is yes we can and do grow apples!

I watched a programme recently about the big apple growing companies. Their apples were ‘Pink Lady’ which is a brand name that also encompasses Gala/Royal Gala, they come from Australia and basically they have crushed British apple growers. They are a genetically modified product but they can’t be grown here because the brand owner in Australia says our climate is not good enough for their products.
Supermarkets prefer to buy from big corporations as it is easier (they say) so they agreed to stop selling our own apples so there isn’t a market for them any more.
The big boys put our apples out of business sadly.

I bought some lovely English apples in Sainsburys yesterday. Delicious.

They are not in season yet. I don't buy apples out of season any more than I do strawberries I find it so exciting when the first UK apples (often Discovery) begin to appear! I've found that UK Braeburns last very well in the fridge after the season is over.

Braeburn are lovely I think they’re British? Does anyone remember the Canadian Mac red apples? I used to absolutely love these but they were delicate . I think that’s why they aren’t sold anymore.